Originally published in The Times of India on November 25, 2019
Hyderabad FC goalkeeper Kamaljit Singh is an ace shot-stopper with excellent leadership skills. The 23-year old Indian goalkeeper is the captain of the team.
He is a youth product of the AIFF academy in Goa. Starting off as a central defender, he switched positions to goalkeeper. Singh had a breakthrough season after being signed by FC Pune City in 2017. In 2019, he joined ISL debutant club Hyderabad FC.
Q. How did your stint at the AIFF training academy help you?
A. Initially, I was selected in the Indian U-14 training camp, and then I was selected in the U-16 and the U-19 teams. While training for a U-19 competition, I was selected by the AIFF Elite Academy in Goa. The academy helped me develop as a player. I was signed to my first club, Sporting Clube de Goa, from the academy. Later, I was selected in the squad for 2014 Asian Games in Incheon. The academy helped me build my career.
Q. How did you make the transition from defender to goalkeeper?
A. When I was selected in the academy as an 11-year-old, I did not know much about football. During the academy trials, the coaches held tryouts for the goalkeeper position. Despite not being a goalkeeper, I gave the trial and played well. I was the tallest player in my training group, which did not have a goalkeeper. I was trained in goalkeeping and improved a lot in the following year. Later, I played for the district level and then represented the country.
Q. Having gone through all the stages in the Indian football system, what are your remarks on the state of Indian football?
A. The Indian football team has made a lot of progress in the past 10 years. Indian Super League has helped develop Indian footballers. There is work being done on the grassroots level to develop young players, which did not happen in the past. Earlier, our international rank was around 160 and now we have reached the 100 ranks range. It will take time but the team will improve.
Q. Despite playing well the last match, the team lost due to a penalty. As captain, how are you dealing with the team morale?
A. All of our players were not fit during the start of the season. Key players like Bobo and Rafa were injured but they have recovered now and will provide a boost to the team. Nestor Gordillo will join the squad in December.
The team did not perform well in our first match, but the coach has created a positive atmosphere and treats all players equally. When the players are motivated, it leads to good performances. The team will definitely give their all in the upcoming matches.
Q. The team’s performance has been improving after initial hitches. Do you think the team can bounce back to make the top 4 and the play-off stage?
A. We can definitely make top 4 and qualify for the play-offs. The team is yet to play 14 matches, which means there are 42 points in-hand. We have 3 points and teams with at least 30 points have qualified for the playoffs in previous seasons. If we can achieve 27 points out of the 42 points available to us, I am sure we will make top 4.
Q. What has been the impact of the coach Phil Brown? What is his coaching style?
A. Brown is an experienced coach who has in-depth insights of every player in the squad with respect to their strengths and weaknesses. The coach appreciates all players in public irrespective of good or bad performances. Later, he calls the player in, goes over his performance and provides tips for improvement. There is mutual respect between the player and the manager. In some teams, I have seen players come under pressure but that is not the case at this club. He knows the abilities of all players and is improving them.
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